Joel Eriksson Ek has signed a new contract with the Minnesota Wild.

Ek is an exceptionally underrated centre in the league and is a great 2C even on a contending team. I like this deal a lot.

I really like that for the wild

Great deal, Minnesota sure loves their long term contracts

I was at a Devils vs Wild game (to boo Parise) and JEE impressed me alot. He's great defensively and this could end up being one of best contracts in the league if he continues to develop

Could become an unreal deal, or a bust.

I’ll take the unreal bet. This could be an amazing deal especially in a few years.

Not a fan at all tbh

Has potential to be a real value contract if he takes a step offensively. Whole lot to like with that player as is, as he's one of the best defensive Cs in the league. If he doesn’t hit that next level, it might look a little steep, but I doubt it will look outright bad.

This is risky. He had a fine year this season, but I'm always weary of long deals before we see how repeatable the performance is. Could be like Marino, who got paid for a really fine first year and fell back in the 2nd.

Still, assuming he maintains this level of play or even builds on it, this has the ability to be one of the best contracts in the next while. He's underrated, but this contract should put more eyes on him.

If the Lightning weren't playing cap gymnastics last off-season, I would have liked to sign Cirelli long-term like this. I like this for Minnesota.

Wow, was not expecting 8 years. I like Eriksson-Ek but feel like this is a risky signing. Hopefully he continues improving like he has been!

I like this, I hope people continue to look past JEE and he proves them all wrong.

Great deal. JEE is a great two way centre, he’s the face of that centre core in Minny.

I think this might work out tbh

It's a good deal if the offence improves. I look at this like the Wennberg contract with CBJ a few years ago. Looked great at the time but quickly proved to be bad. Still, solid #2 C.

Girard Type Contract, I think it will work but again this is from one year of main production, so

Joel Eriksson signs an eight-year deal after a strong breakout campaign where he finished fourth in Selke voting. Based on closest comps, there is some potential downside in the final few years, but he should be well worth it through his prime. pic.twitter.com/MITK8Kow8s

— #1 montreal canadiens fan (@domluszczyszyn) July 2, 2021

Reminds me of Girard. A hit or miss deal.

I don't hate this deal, but it's a little more than I would have given him.

I just don't think he's a 1c, and with this kind of deal people might expect him to be that.

Bro have you seen contracts these days? 5.25 is high end 3C/low end 2C money.

750k-2M = 4C
3M-5M = 3C
6M-8M = 2C
9M+ = 1C

Similar to the Nuge signing, but with a younger player in Eriksson Ek and no NMC. I think Eriksson Ek still has some room to grow, so I think this contract will be great for the Wild by the time Ek reaches his prime. Right now he may not be quite worth this money, but he is still a solid 2C/Great 3C and will live up to this contract in no time. Very underrated young center here and I think this signing is better than most may think.

Yeah, I was going to say $5.25m is a steal for a 2C.

Contract is a gamble the steady progress he's shown year over year will continue, so we'll see. I like it though, thrilled to see him signed long term.

Danault agent be going give my guy this or hes gone

Anyways good deal for a good young 2C

I don’t know if it’s just me, but the fact that he’s making more then RNH now seems.. off

118gp 27g 32a 59p (.5ppg or 41p / 82gp)

48.59cf% 49.52ff% 55.79xgf%

I think he’s a really great 3c or an average 2c. I would compare him to Lars Eller. Dude got a big pay day for having a great year where his s% was WAY above his average…. Could be good but people call this a steal might be overhyping a guy coming off a good year in a division that was fairly weak / top heavy